After much foreplay in the form of increasingly graphic trailers that to me skate the edges of pornography, the release plan for Lars von Trier‘sNymphomaniac has come together. Magnolia Pictures has announced that von Trier has cut his work into two films. The first, Nymphomaniac: Part One, will open in theaters March 21 after premiering on-demand March 6. This will climax in the April 18 release of the second film, which first will be on-demand April 3.

Von Trier is no stranger to controversy, as witnessed by the dopey comments he made promoting Melancholia which resulted in getting banned from the Cannes Film Festival, but the subject matter of this film should sell itself. In fact, he has vowed to do no press as both films premiere in Denmark on Christmas Day. Despite that, I wouldn’t be surprised if Magnolia has itself a multi-platform juggernaut that could be reminiscent of Last Tango In Paris, a squarely adult art film with something for everyone. That includes the voyeur crowd, as Magnolia boasts it has an unprecedented amount of explicit sex. The films haven’t yet been rated, but getting an R would probably work against the multi-platform release pattern of this pic.

The first film tells the story of Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg), a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac who is badly beaten and left in an alley. She’s helped by an older bachelor, Seligman (Stellan Skarsgård), who takes her into his home. As he tends to her wounds, she recounts the erotic story of her adolescence and young-adulthood (portrayed in flashback by Stacy Martin). This film stars Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Uma Thurman, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Connie Nielsen and Udo Kier. The second part focuses on Joe’s adulthood and stars Jamie Bell, Willem Dafoe, Mia Goth and Jean-Marc Barr in addition to Gainsbourg, Skarsgård, Martin and LaBeouf. Here’s the most recent and rather graphic trailer:

20 Comments

“This will climax in the April 18 release of the second film…”
I see what you did there.

nyguy • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

If you can’t tell the difference between porn and art I pity you. Von Trier is an artist but then again do they play art films in Long Island? Sheesh.

stranger danger with a spork • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

We want sexy not creepy.

Darkman • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

“Skate the edges of pornography?” Are you kidding me? There’s a blowjob plus a shot of a girl spitting out a guy’s load. Unless of course the bj isn’t pornographic because it doesn’t show the mushroom head of the guy’s dick. And the load isn’t pornographic because it’s not being shown shooting into her delicate mouth.

Perhaps this does only skate the edges. I stand corrected.

Lick it up! • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

I’m sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired of von trier.

Dude’s like a first year film student who believes he’s pushing the envelope when in fact he’s only licking it.

Johan • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Amen! I can’t speak for Nymphomaniac, but Melancholia was one of the worst most nonsensical pieces of garbage I have ever seen. Same with Antichrist.

Terrible, terrible films. I cannot believe he convinces people to sink money into these movies.

Kirk Carter • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Content is edgy, Trier’s is not afraid to go there, pushing the envelope quite a bit. Nymphomaniac actually has a story to it also, which focuses on the chaos that develops around an abused personality. Just enough lust to entertain those who like to voyeur, and just enough disturbing moments to be considered episodic. The reason I’m giving this a thumbs up, is not so much the movie, although very enticing, but rather for the courage of the good folks at Magnolia Pictures for having faith and following through with the production and it’s inevitable release. It’s a shame we don’t have more production companies like you, looking outside the box. Good work guys!

Cole Skinner • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

If you think it’s about an abused personality then the sex scenes are about watching somebody be abused, correct? I haven’t seen the movie, but I doubt it has taken “courage” to produce it. What would be courageous would be to try to tell – and sell – this story without graphic sex scenes, but then he – and we – would probably lose interest, wouldn’t we?

jessica faulkner • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

I am looking forward to ITS release as well. Thanks to yourself for looking outside the box.

johnny b goode • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

This Lars dude needs to relax. He’s like the weird kid in elementary school who always had to pull his pee-pee out for attention.

Ray A. • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

JBG, you win the Internet!

Also, for the people debating whether this movie(s) is art or porn … it could possibly be both. The two don’t have to be mutually exclusive. (Exhibit A: “Henry and June.”)

CynicalCritic • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Actually, going further back to the 80s (1982, to be precise), a now-obscure adult film called “Body Talk” contained a rather serious storyline about bone cancer, as I believe the main character develops it and must also deal with an older woman/younger man relationship of which the male’s parents do not approve.

It may not have been considered an art film, but it was certainly regarded (at the time) as much more than a typical adult film, since it raised questions about a serious life-threatening subject and the writing was stronger than in your average porn flick. Still, it was also a hardcore adult film.

I offer this older example to support your point that art and porn do not need to be mutually exclusive.

And, today, like von Trier, Gaspar Noe combines both elements as well in his movies.

Mr. Majestyk • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Oh, I remember that kid.

rocketeuropa • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Oh, come on, are we REALLY offended?? (-if you are you had no business clicking on the headline above…)
Just on the basis of his last film, “Melancolia”, Lars gets a free pass on this one.

pBrstreetgang • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Look i dont mind sex in films at all but Im sorry this makes sex looks as sleazy, dirty , and deviant as can be. sex can be many things it can be erotic , sensual and beautiful . Not sure what they are going for here other than some thing dark. To make a movie about sex is easy. sex is simple. love on the other hand Love is complex . try making a film about love it would be more impressive.

CynicalCritic • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

The only reason it looks “sleazy, dirty, and deviant as can be” is thanks to Shia LeBeouf’s participation.

curious_sixty_two • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Amen! Perhaps one of the decepticons can go back in time and remove all Mr. LeBeouf’s scenes before it opens and, thereby, improve the film tenfold.

LarsVonTears • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Alright, it’s got lots of sex scenes and the lead actor’s name translated means “The Beef.” If that doesn’t describe pornography, what does?

Mr. Clean • on Dec 5, 2013 8:25 am

Funny thing is, the last good work Shia LaBeouf did was a movie called “Holes”.